You may remember this video from the weekend: the President of Nintendo of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, appeared on a popular late night talk show to play some Donkey Kong Country Returns and decided to show off a little of the 3DS as well? And when asked by the incisive interviewer "when will the console be coming out?", Mr Fils-Aime replied with "next year" and tears flowed freely around the world. Well, hope may well have returned as new rumours point this comment may have been a slip-up.

Anonymous sources close to Nintendo of Japan have commented to Kotaku that the comment was "a mistake", though they did not provide any information other than repeating the company's stance that the machine will be launched before the new financial year begins in April 2011.